Apparatus for manufacturing frozen confections



Feb. 24, 1942. T. E. MHHUTH- APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FROZEN CONFECTIONS Filed July 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR jk lm fi'zzegajllarylafb AT RNEY Feb. 24, 1942. T. E. M. HUTH APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FROZEN CONFEGTIONS s She e ts-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, l94l v Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED stares Pars-m FsFilCE APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING FROZEN CONFECTIONS v. 'llf'helma Evelyn Mary .Huth,.Los..Angeles, Calif., assignor to Joe. Lowe Corporation, New York,

N. Y.,.a.corp0ration of Delaware Application July'lfl, 1941,?Serial No.5.401j772 %3. Claims. (01. 107-945) the basic problems and principles of operation of the apparatus shown herein.

An object of the present invention is toprovide a simple, inexpensive and sanitary-means for preventing the'finished confectioneryproducts from getting out of alignment when their respective spurs are suddenly withdrawntherefrom in a carelessand violent'manner, preparatory to their delivery into their respective packages.

Other and further objects and advantagesof the invention, which result in simplicity, economy and efiiciency, will be apparent 'fromthe following detailed description, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is shown, reference being'had for illustrative purposes to the accompanying drawings," forming a part hereofin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for packaging simultaneously a plurality of individual confectionery'products into a seriesv of aligned open-ended boxes;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of.a conventional spur plate apparatus, having a combined stripper plate built therein, and illustrating a plurality of individual confectionery bodies separately bonded to .its. depending. spurs; which device. is utilized in manipulatingand. harvesting the confectionery products during their various manufacturing. operations;

Fig. 3 is another perspective view of thelpackaging platform of the apparatusjshown in. Fig.1, and illustrating the. step of actually moving. the rows of confectionery products from the spur plateto their respectively aligned and juxtaposed boxes;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged .scale of that; portion 'of' the apparatus .(shown' in Fig.3, illustrating themanner' inwhi'ch my invention. is embodied in thegapparatus;

Fig. "5 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional ing, etc., as indicated at l6.

uprights of' carrier l2 over the upstanding view of the mechanismemployed in releasing the rconfectionery products .from their respective spurs, the same having been taken substantially along theline 5- 5 of Fig. 4,1 looking in.-the*:direction of the arrows Fig. "'6 is another enlarged fragmentary .--sectional View similar to .Fig. 5, butshowing the finished confectionery products after they have been moved'by the apparatus from'their"positions on the spur iplate .into their respective packaging boxes; and

Fig. 7 is .an-enlarged .fragmentaryrperspective view of the pusherfingersofxtheapparatus.

'Referring 'now to the drawingsywherein like numerals 'indicateflike parts, thereis '1 shown. in Fig. 2 a conventionalrportablespur plate or carrier I2, comprising *a pair oftsuperimpose'd .slid- I ably mounted marginaliplates l3-aand lfl. The lower plate I3 having a pluralityof transversely extending handles l5 fixedly secured theretoin any suitable manner as by 1spot=welding,:rivet- A pair of :oppositely disposed upstanding arms I1, having enlarged .heads I8, are mounted adjacent each :endiofithe lower plate l3, which serve as stops forf'limiting the distance of separation between "the plates l3 and M. 'The lower plate l3 rhasra plurality of spaced apertures!!! arranged in rowsutransversely and longitudinally. The upper plate! :is provided'with aiplurality of depending spurs zll,

which are similarly spaced to correspond with theapertures [9 of the lower plate l3, and-are adapted to extend therethrough when said plates are superimposed. Apertures' 2i 1 are also :pro-

vided in the upper plate M for permitting the arms I! to pass therethrough. The upperplate I4 is likewise provided with a pair or transversely eXtendinghandIes-ZZ. It will be noted that 'the handles l5 and '22 of the plateslS and M, respectively, arepositioned'adjacenteach other so that'both maybe grasped by one hand for manual operationif desired. "suspending stops in the form of studs -23 are provided intermediate-the the handles for suspendingthe sidewalls of --a conventional mold structure (not shown). "In the illustration shown, it Wi11" b8I1-Otdthat-a frozen confectionery product'25=isbonded to the lower ends of each spur 20. These confectionery products 25 are now ready'for'removal from their respective'spurs "and packaging "or "boxing.

Re'ferring' nowto Fig; 1 or the drawingsythere is shown 1 a' harvesting and packaging apparatus embodying myinvention. "The apparatusdfl consists of a plurality of front supporting legs 33, and a plurality of rear supporting legs 34, the latter extending upwards a, short distance beyond the tops of the front legs 33. The front legs 33 are suitably braced transversely by crossrods 36, and the rear legs 34 are similarly braced by cross-rods 31. The front legs 33 and rear legs 34 are suitably connected by lower crossrods 38 and upper cross bars 39. Tracks 4| are mounted on top of the cross bars 39 adjacent the front end thereof, having a channel 42 for receiving and supporting the handles I of the spur plate I2. Mounted transversely of the back of the apparatus 38 is an elevated depressed platform 43, which is adapted to act as a supporting means for receiving a removable box holding tray 44, having upstanding side flanges 46, the latter having slots 41 therein to provide hand holes for facilitating gripping. The tray 44, in the illustration shown, is of a size adapted to receive a series of twelve open-ended conventional boxes 48, having end closure fiaps 49, said boxes being aligned in a side by side horizontal arrangement, being one box for each transverse row of spurs 26 on the portable carrier I2.

A frame structure is suitably mounted pivotally on a shaft 5| mounted transversely of slot 52 cut into the tops of the back legs 34. The frame structure 58, having side arms 52 connected at their front ends by a cross-rod 53, has intermediate its ends a guiding means in the form of a series of transversely spaced longitudinally extending guide members 54, forming troughs or passageways 55. The guide members 54 are fixedly suspended from cross-bars 56 and 58 secured to the tops of the side arms 52.

A slidable member 60 is mounted transversely of the frame structure 58 on its side arms 52. The slidable member 69 consists of a channelshaped cross-bar 62, having side runners 63 providedwith channels 64 adapted to receive the top surface of the side arms 52. A clamping member 65 secures the runners 63 to the guide rails or side arms 52. A plurality of spaced integrally formed pusher fingers 66 are mounted across the front side of the cross-bar 62, each finger being adapted to fill the trough or passageway 55 between adjacent guide members 54. The front edge of each pusher finger 66 is turned downwardly, as indicated at 67, to provide a relatively fiat surface for engagement with the nearest confectionery product 25 of each row. A stop bar 68 is provided for limiting the forward movement of the slidable member 66 on its guide rails 52.

A manipulating handle 69 is mounted centrally of the top of the cross-bars 62.

Each of the pusher fingers 66 has its top side out out, as indicated at 70, to form slots.

The rear cross-bar 56 of the slidable member 60 has a series of spaced flexible metal strip members 72 welded or riveted thereto, as indicated at 14. These strips I2 are so spaced transversely of the apparatus along the underside of the cross-bar 56 as to provide for one extending centrally along each passageway 55, which passageways 55 are defined by the guide members 54. The opposite ends of the strips I2 extend freely through the slots I9 and beyond the front crossbar 68. The length of each of the strips 12 is sufiicient to prevent their being withdrawn F through the slots I8 when the slidable member 68 is in its extreme forward position, as best shown in Fig. 5, in which position the fingers 66 are ready tomove the rows of confectionery products 25 into their respective boxes 48.

A second pivotal frame member 89 is mounted on the shaft 5| of the rear uprights 34 to provide means for holding down the open end flaps 49 of the boxes 48. The frame member 89 has a pair of side arms 82 provided with outwardly extending ears 83, forming suitable finger tabs for manipulating the same, and a transversely extending cross-bar 84 which serves to engage and hold down the end flaps 49 of the boxes 48 during the filling operation. The side arms 82 are provided with projections 86 adapted to engage frictionally an indentation 88 on the side arms 52 of the frame structur 59. In this manner the frame structure 50 and the frame structure 88 may be locked together and moved as a single unit, or separately, as desired. A lug 89 is formed adjacent the rear of each of the side arms 82 for providing means for engaging an associated pivotal frame member 90 hereinafter described.

The associated pivotal frame member 99 consists of a transversely extending cross-bar 92 connected by side arms 93 pivotally mounted on the shaft 5| of the rear supporting legs 34. The bar 92 is adapted to be positioned below the forward ends of the boxes 48 and behind their downwardly projecting open-end flaps 49. It Will be apparent that when the frame member Bil is raised upwardly, removing its cross-bar 84 from the end flaps 49 of the boxes 48, thereby releasing the same, the lugs 89 engage the side arms 93 of the frame member 98 and carries it upwardly, causing its cross-bar 92 to force upwardly the depending end flaps 49 to a position whereby they may be easily and quickly slipped manually into their respective boxes 48 to close the same.

Stripping means I60 is provided for automatically removing the spurs 28 from their respective confectionery products 25. This means consists of a pair of forwardly projecting horizontal arms I92 pivotally mounted on a shaft I94 jcurnalled in the rear supporting legs 34. A housing IE6 is mounted transversely of the arms I92 adjacent the forward ends thereof, and adapted to act as a guide track for a pair of spaced transversely slidable arms I88, which are pivotally connected to a common lever H2. A projecting finger II 6 is provided adjacent the top and outside end of each arm I08, which fingers H6 are adapted to engage the handles 22 of the spur plate I2, as best shown in Fig. 5. Spring tensioning means I I8 connects the arms I 62 from a point I 83 spaced from the legs 34 to a fastening lug I29, and provides means for maintaining normally the stripping means I 90 in its uppermost position. The lever I I2 is connected, as indicated at I22, to a link I24, which in turn is connected as at I26, to a foot treadle operated lever I28, fulcrumed at its rear end to the floor by means of a bifurcated plate member I34. The forward end of the lever I28 is provided with a foot pad I32.

In operation of the stripping means I86, it will be apparent that when pressure is applied downwardly on the foot pad I32 by the foot of the operator, the lever I 28 pulls its connecting link I24 downwardly, causing the projecting fingers II6 to be moved beyond the handles 22 of the spur plate I2. Further downward movement of the lever H2 pulls the housing I66 and its pivotal supporting arms I 02 downwardly against the spring tensioning means II8. This further downward movement causes the fingers II 6 to exert pressure downwardly on the handles 22, withdrawing the spurs downwardly through the -Withdrawal of the spurs 20 from the stripping plate I3. As the spurs 20 are withdrawn through the apertures I9 of the stripping plate I3, it exerts pressure against the bot tom side of the confectionery products 25, forcing them from their respective spurs. I

In harvesting and'packaging the completed frozen confectionery products 25, it is to be .as-

' sumed that the tray 44 has been loaded with boxes 48 and positioned in the depression of the elevated platform 43, with the open-ended flaps 49 secured under the cross-bar 84, and that the frame members 53 and 69 are properly positioned horizontally.

The portable spur plate I2, which is best shown in Fig. 2, is inverted with the handles I mounted in the channels 42 of the arms M, as best shown I in Fig. 5, with the confectionery products 25- upmovement vertically, the lugs 89 engage the arms Q93 of the associated frame member 90, moving its frontcross-bar 32 upwardly. This upward movement of the cross-bar 92 brings the end flaps 49 vention is not so limited, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing permostr Releasing of the confectionery products 25 from their respective spurs may be accomplished by depressing the foot pad I32, which as heretofore described, moves the fingers IIB over, the handles 22 of the spur plate I2, withdrawing the spurs 23 through the top plate I3, forcing the confectionery products 25 therefrom and depositing them on the top side thereof.

confectionery products 25 leaves a small aperture I extending into the product, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thereupon, the slidable member 60 is ready to be moved backwardly of the frame member 60, causing the side 61 of the pusher fingers 66 to engage the nearest confectionery product 25 and force all of the confections 25 of its respective row longitudinally into its aligned box, the guides 54 preventing the confectionery products of a row from getting out of alignment with its respective box and the flexible strip member I2 preventing the products of a row from overriding one another, thereby jamming up in the passageway 55 and slowing up production as well as causing damage to some of the products.

The confectionery products 25 which are made generally in the trade have a hard outer protective coating, such as chocolate, butterscotch and like coatings. These coatings are applied by dipping the confections 25 while mounted on the spurs 20 in a tank of molten flavoring material (not shown). Small drops of such coating materials have a tendencyto accumulate around the spurs 20, which provide an uneven surface for sliding into the boxes 48-and which, causes the from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for harvesting and packaging a plurality of frozen confectionery units which comprises means for supporting a plurality of individual boxes in a single plane, means for receiving a portable carrier in juxtaposition to said aligned boxes having a plurality of spaced rows of spaced confectionery units bonded thereto whereby each row is aligned with one of said confections to have a tendencyto override one another when the apparatus is being operated quickly. The flexible strip members I2 prevent overriding, and also prevent the confectionery products 25-from jumping out of their respective passageways when the spurs 20 are withdrawn with a jerk or uneven pressure due to careless or violent operation of the foot treadle I32. Elimination of these tendencies has greatly increased the efliciency and production of the machine.

The foot treadle I32 may thenbe released, and the frame members 50 and BI! moved to their vertical position as a unit, as best shown in Fig. 1.

This releases the end flaps 49 of the boxes 48.

When the member approaches the end of its boxes, means for actuating the carrier to release the confectionery units therefrom, means for guiding each row of released units longitudinally into said boxes, means for preventing the units of each row from overriding one another while being moved into said boxes, and means for moving simultaneously the confectionery units of each row from said carrier into its aligned box.

2. Apparatus for harvesting and packaging a plurality of frozen confectionery units which comprises means for supporting a plurality of individual boxes in a single horizontal plane, means for receiving a portable carrier in juxtaposition to said aligned boxes having a plurality of spaced rows of spaced confectionery units bonded thereto whereby each row is aligned with one of said boxes, means for actuating the carrier to release the confectionery units therefrom, means, for guiding each row of confectionery units from said carrier into its aligned box, means for maintaining each row of confectionery units in the same horizontal plane as said boxes, and means for moving simultaneously the confectionery units of each row from said carrier into its aligned box.

3. Apparatus for harvesting and packaging a plurality of frozen. confectionery units which comprises means for supporting a plurality of individual j boxes in a single horizontal plane, means for receiving a portable carrier in juxtaposition to said aligned boxes having a plurality of spaced rows of spaced confectionery units bonded thereto whereby each row is aligned with one of said boxes, means for actuating the carrier to release the confectionery units therefrom. means for guiding each row of released units longitudinally into its respective box, flexible means for maintaining said'units in a horizontal plane while being released and moved into said boxes, and means for moving simultaneously the confectionery units of each row from said carrier to its aligned box.

' THELMA EVELYN MARY HUTH. 

